Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-12-15
Under The MiStletOe.

Margaret Warner stood before the mirror,
II 'rown upon her usually calm, unruiiied
brow. Ncs, there was no denying il, no
| shrinking away from the fact there lay
the first real footprint of time, cleaning
| white, amid the trcsscs of brown hair
| she felt something clutching AT her heart,
n great lump rising in her throat and "A
mo nent more the tears she strove 10 repress
filled her ewes. Margaret was m old maid
Nine and thirty, yes, forty on her comm &
birthday, and il was not far OIL She was
not foolish woman and her tears fell, not
because age was creeping on ana the dark
braids would whiten soon. hut at the sight
OF the silver streak something within whis-
pered Margaret, youth is past the joy,
the sorrow, al are gone" Bitter-sweet
memories crowded upon her. and she bowed
her head within her hands and sobbed.
After "A moment she summoned courage
and plucked the offending thread of silver
from among its fellows She laid it upon
the white marble of the dresser then across
the sleeve of her dark dress.
| White, snowy white.
She looked again in the mirror, scanning
her face closely. She WAS fair and comely
still. Her complexion might have been that
of a babe, ii was So delicately smooth, and
her eyes were rs blue and bright rs ever.
Yet. though she found no sign of decay, the
woman sighed. Then she drew from her
bosom a locket suspended 10y n tiny gold
chain. Touching "A spring il opened and
she gazed wistfully upon two faces pictured
there one was girlish face, winsome and
| flir-Margaret in her youth the other a
youth, handsome and not over twenty. She
pressed il To her lips, 10 her heart, and al
lowed her tears to fall unchecked upon it.
What Margaret, an old maid and in love
still
"Rosie must not see me in tears, she
murmured
There MAS the sound of AN opening door,
the echo Of footsteps in the hall and "A smart
patter upon the stair.
Rosie was coming.
Margaret had only time TO thrush her
treasure again into its hiding place, when
the door flew open and a young girl entered,
brcathleSs with excitement Her hair had
been tossed 10y the wind and fell in waves
over her shoulders. \ rich red glow was
upon her cheek and her eyes were sparkling
She threw herself upon a chair with utter
abandon and tossed pair of skates which
she had been exercising upon (for it was
frosty outSide) upon the floor Then no
ticing Margarct's tcar-stained face she
sprang toward her and wound her arms
closely about her.
"What is it, auntie Why are you sad "
Tell me what has happened.
"lt is nothing, dear. | am foolish old
maid, and il all came of this ugly gray
hair" and Margaret took il from IFS place
upon the cushion and held il up for inspec-
| ton.
& .,lar,.adtnl ~ crird EoSie with npliitcd
hahdS ana 4 comic iooA oi Sy'hla'n'''c nor
ror upon her lace. We VIII look over the
"hole IiSh o' hiir u!eS an" prepare o"'Se'N-
IS 10 color each one 's II makes IT'S appear
ance out guess do guess, auhue' VINO Is
mere
i IN not good al guessing y"n khow'ahd
now couid 'eil Whl'h one "i your huiher-
ouS lovers Is again IN the Held
For shame, auntie yon know have
but one lover now. It's Halls father. He
- here mt last. wonder what he VIII
| think OF me - and the girl, gently pushing
Margaret aside, placed herself in front Of
| the mirror. - Now. auutlp. | going to
take nm inventory. Put II down ana see
how IL reads. Height five feet, figure slight
| and trim, brown halr, blue eyes, broad lore
| head, fair complexion, pink cheeks, ruby
| lips. Am right, auntie -
'Quite correct, my love.
"But the nose, auntie, the nose that
troubles me it is the one unruly member ::
it will turn up. I've half mind to try
Amy's plan and put n clothes-pin ON IT,.
| You remember Amy in Little Women ."
eyes, yes" said Margaret, laughing :;
| "but il is a cute nose after all.
"Im not bad looking At any rate, and
| YOU think / have not overestimated my
self >" with just little tone of doubt in
her voice
"No. Rosie, the stock is not watered, and
think you may at least feel assured of its
being taken at par
'You knew Major Cole once, didn't you,
Auntie, years ago when he was a young
man >"
eyes" said Margaret, family.
| "And wasn't it sad, his wife dying when
Harry was a baby ?"
| But Margaret made no reply to this she
sat still and white. and returned not n
word.
| As she sat wrapped in thought the past
with its buried lows and rriefs came up be-
| fore her. She saw n gallant youth, the
| Major who looked into her eyes with n